In new novels, marriages are tested by a last request and a moment in the spotlight

In two new novels, marriages are tested by unusual circumstances. First, in Ann Packer’s Some Bright Nowhere , a woman dying of cancer makes a big ask of her husband. In today’s episode, Packer speaks with NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly about the uncertainty of illness and what writers do between books. Then, Craig Thomas, the co-creator of How I Met Your Mother , is out with a novel. In today’s episode, he tells NPR’s Sacha Pfeiffer about That’s Not How It Happened , in which a feel-good movie threatens to destroy the family who inspired it. To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookoftheday Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy